North Miami-Dade News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the midst of a crisis of biblical proportions in Haiti, Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Chairwoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) has co-introduced legislation to support one of Haiti's key industries by renewing the vital Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) for ten years. This move is crucial during a tumultuous and unstable time for the country and the Caribbean region. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) is leading companion legislation in the Senate.

In a statement, Chairwoman María Elvira Salazar emphasized the importance of businesses remaining in Haiti to provide jobs, growth, and stability. She said, "In the middle of a crisis of biblical proportions in Haiti, it is vital that businesses remain in the country to provide jobs, growth, and stability. The HOPE/HELP trade programs employ over 10,000 people in Haiti, and I am fighting to renew these programs for another 10 years. Congress must ensure these policies continue for the good of the Haitian people and stability in the region."

Haiti is currently experiencing a political and economic crisis of biblical proportions, with over 2,200 people dead in the August 14, 2021 earthquake and widespread damage to the country's economy and infrastructure.

The HELP Extension Act aims to stabilize the Haitian economy while authorities continue to rebuild by reauthorizing the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) apparel import for ten additional years, through 2035. Textile and apparel imports from Haiti to the United States make up over 90% of total imports from the country and represent approximately 11.5% of Haitian GDP. The textile industry in Haiti employs nearly 30,000 people.

Chairwoman Salazar stressed that this program is not only critical for promoting the economic security of the hemisphere but also for preventing these jobs and income from going to China.

Chairwoman Salazar has been directly engaged in issues of strategic and economic importance in Haiti as the representative for the City of Miami, the Gateway to the Americas. She has sponsored legislation to reduce gang violence in Haiti through the Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act. Additionally, she was a leading cosponsor for the HELP Extension Act during her first term in Congress.

Other representatives have also expressed their support for the legislation. Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) said, "By extending the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act and the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Act, the United States can send an important message of support to our friends and neighbors in Haiti who are dealing with a horrific humanitarian crisis as a result of gang violence and political instability."

Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL) stated, "I'm proud to co-sponsor the HELP Extension Act, which, alongside the HOPE Act, sends a resounding message of support to our friends and neighbors in Haiti in its crisis brought by violence and instability."

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Co-Chair of the Haiti Caucus, emphasized the importance of the program in creating long-term stability in Haiti. She said, "To create long-term stability in Haiti, there must first be a solid foundation for economic opportunity and growth. The HOPE/HELP trade preference program has helped do just this, boosting the apparel sector and spurring job creation across the country. At a time when Haiti finds itself plagued by uncertainty, this program must continue uninterrupted."

The legislation has garnered bipartisan support, with Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) stating, "NY-17 has one of the largest Haitian diasporas in the country. Many of my constituents still have family in Haiti. As the country continues to struggle with violent crime and political unrest, it is critical that we support the Haitian people and help provide them with economic stability during this tumultuous time."

Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC), who has traveled to Haiti multiple times as a medical missionary, added, "I know firsthand that helping vulnerable nations aids in establishing prosperity and thus creates stability. Such interventions begin by lifting their economy and bolstering their industries from the ground up. In light of the continued chaos and horrific violence that has consumed the nation in recent months, it is important now more than ever that we renew the HOPE/HELP program."

The Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership and Encouragement (HOPE) Act was amended in 2005 to remove duties from Haitian apparel exports to the United States in response to an economic downturn in Haiti. In 2010, the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Act was passed following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, broadening the types of goods eligible for duty-free status. Both HOPE and HELP only extended these trade benefits to 2025, necessitating an extension this Congress to ensure there is no gap in duty-free status for these goods.

To learn more about the HELP Extension Act, visit http://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-salazar-introduces-haiti-economic-lift-program-help-extension.